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Cancer Blog Category

Hope /hōp/ noun: a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen. Most people have never thought much about hope. They may think hope is the same as wishing or optimism, or they may assume everyone hopes the same way they do and that it means the same thing. In actuality, hope…

Over the last forty years, the cervical cancer death rate has decreased more than fifty percent due to the increased use of the Pap test. This screening procedure can find changes in the cervix before the cancer develops. It also can find cancer in earlier stages, when it’s most curable. Cervical cancer is most commonly…

By now, everyone knows that tan skin is damaged skin. But just because you don’t have a sun tan doesn’t mean your skin is in optimal health. May is skin cancer awareness month, and Mercy Cancer Center would like to take this opportunity to remind you to take care of your body’s largest organ, the…

The burden of supporting someone you love can be both a privilege and a responsibility. It is vitally important to identify the limitations that may exist emotionally, relationally, and psychologically for a couple that is battling cancer together. One of the most difficult aspects of coping with a chronic or long-term illness such as cancer…

One of the most exciting things in oncology is the vast improvement in survivor rates over the past few decades. It’s led to a whole new phase of the cancer journey called survivorship. Learn what survivorship is and how you can develop a Survivor Care Plan. Cancer doesn’t have to be a death sentence anymore….

Chances are if you are a parent of a tween or teen, you have been offered or even chosen to get your child vaccinated against HPV or human papilloma virus. Have you thought about why this vaccine is so important? Nicole Haines with Mercy Cancer Center provides an educational message on the HPV vaccination. What is HPV…

Everyone anticipates the holiday season differently. Some may be excited for the gathering of family and friends, while others may find the holiday season emotionally challenging. This is especially true if you’ve lost someone close to you. The absence of your loved one can be overwhelming. During the holidays, grief from loss may feel like…

Mercy employee Gary Trompower says kicking the smoking habit in 2007 after 32 years was one of the hardest (but best) things he’s ever done. A few years later, Gary did another ‘best thing’ for himself: he got a low-dose CT lung cancer screening. Thanks to this quick, pain-free test, Gary’s non-small cell lung cancer…

Only about 5–10% of breast cancers are thought to be hereditary or caused by abnormal genes passed from parent to child. If there happens to be an error in a gene, then that same mistake will appear in all the cells that contain the same gene. It would be like having an instruction manual and…

Benjamin Franklin once said, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Most men pondering the effects of prostate cancer — including Mercy surgeon and prostate cancer survivor Greg Boone, MD — fully agree. During Prostate Cancer Awareness Month (and throughout the rest of the year), we want to arm men with the…

In Ohio, we want to get outside as soon as the weather breaks and we feel those warm rays on our skin. Unfortunately, just one bad sunburn as a child makes you 50 percent more likely to develop melanoma as an adult. Almost everyone has a traumatic sunburn story, but that does not mean we…

Cancer can be complicated and scary. For some, when they hear the word “palliative,” they think dying. In reality, palliative care means something very different. Cancer can be complicated and scary. Many wonder if their cancer diagnosis spells the end of their life and carefully avoid discussions about prognosis for fear of hearing the worst….

Most of us have an uncomfortable, if not painful relationship with cancer and cancer-related issues. But the first step to being proactive in preventing cancer is staying informed. February is National Cancer Prevention month. It’s important to know what each of us can do to make a difference. It was not too long ago that…

You have been sick and used all your vacation and sick days. Now you find out you have cancer requiring a long course of treatment. You didn’t plan for this. You won’t be able to work and have no disability benefits. How are you going to support your family? How are you going to pay…

Even though male breast cancer is rare, you should never ignore a suspicious lump in the breast tissue. See your doctor. If the lump is cancerous, intervention can begin early. Male breast cancer accounts for about 1% of all breast cancers. Although men and women are very different, male breast cancer is similar to female…

If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with cancer, it's important to understand that you shouldn't make this journey alone. Although there isn't one ideal way to get the support you need, you do have several good options. A cancer diagnosis can be devastating. Throughout the course of treatment, many people confront physical…

Few people are more familiar with new beginnings than cancer survivors. New beginnings might mean many things for you, but some survivors find the path to wellness begins with a new career — or a new take on an existing career. Here are four questions to ask yourself about returning to work after cancer. Getting…

The National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention has designated the Friday before Memorial Day as Don’t Fry Day, an annual effort to raise awareness about skin cancer prevention. As the unofficial kick-off to our summer season, Mercy Cancer Center is encouraging everyone to use this day to increase awareness about skin cancer and to adopt…

Everyone struggles with this, cancer history or not. When you are working eight hours a day, who has energy for a post-work workout? How do you prioritize exercise as part of your new normal after cancer recovery? So you’re back to work after cancer, and your doctors continue to remind you that regular exercise is…

If you or someone you love is a cancer survivor, don't be overwhelmed by the thought of an all-out, agressive, boot-camp-style workout. Learn more about the latest research on exercise for cancer survivors. It was a long winter. Even if you were stalwart enough to stand up to the cold, you might have found it…

Cancer prevention doesn't have to be complicated or expensive. Start making these simple changes today. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), at least 1/3 of cancers are preventable. If you’ve been watching television talk shows and so-called health experts tout new ways to prevent cancer, don’t rush out and spend money on the latest…